title: A new genotype of Cryptosporidium from giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in China.
abstract: Fifty-seven fecal samples were collected from giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda (CCRCGP) in Sichuan and examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts by Sheather's sugar flotation technique. An 18-year-old male giant panda was Cryptosporidium positive, with oocysts of an average size of 4.60×3.99 μm (n=50). The isolate was genetically analyzed using the partial 18S rRNA, 70 kDa heat shock protein (HSP70), Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) and actin genes. Multi-locus genetic characterization indicated that the present isolate was different from known Cryptosporidium species and genotypes. The closest relative was the Cryptosporidium bear genotype, with 11, 10, and 6 nucleotide differences in the 18S rRNA, HSP70, and actin genes, respectively. Significant differences were also observed in the COWP gene compared to Cryptosporidium mongoose genotype. The homology to the bear genotype at the 18S rRNA locus was 98.6%, which is comparable to that between Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis (99.2%), or between Cryptosporidium muris and Cryptosporidium andersoni (99.4%). Therefore, the Cryptosporidium in giant pandas in this study is considered as a new genotype: the Cryptosporidium giant panda genotype.
authors.affiliation: The Key Laboratory of Animal Disease and Human Health of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Ya'an, PR China.
authors.forename: Xuehan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Tingmei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Zhijun
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Hemin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Rongjun
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Haiju
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Chengdong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Desheng
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jiabo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Guangneng
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Longxian
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003457:Cryptosporidiosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003458:Cryptosporidium / Q000235:genetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D010802:Phylogeny; D001503:Ursidae
keywords: 18S rRNA; Actin; COWP; Cryptosporidium; Genotype; Giant panda; HSP70